Hello all! First I would like to know if anyone on this forum is from This (my) area. California, Arizona, Nevada.

And do you, or have you competed in any Scale Masters contests or planning to this year? I am trying to get us all together. In 3 years of competing myself I have not seen many entering the events. And not much participation in running the events.

I check in once in awhile...I have flown at 1 championships about 10 years ago...haven't had a competitive plane since plus family has sidelined my practice sessions...with the daughter growing up, I'm slowly getting back to competition....always happy to have the Championships somewhere out west....any word on where it might be in 2011?

OK, so there are a few here willing to identify themselfs. I was at the Madera qualifier. There was good participation in Expert. I beleve there was seven or eight entered. Advanced only had one, me. Open had only a few. I was at Hemet back in April and the turnout was not very good. I think five or six in each class would be minimum for a well attended qualifier. Open should have 10 or more!

Does anyone here know of any scale contests that are not Scale Masters in our area? But under AMA rules? Maybe we need some more simple contests to bring in the beginers. Then go for the Best of the Best.

I tried a new idea called Simple Scale, that was to be ran during a scale fun fly. It was sucessful untill I got tired of running it by myself. I'll post info about it on another thread.

My personal opinion in getting more beginners involved in the scale scene would be to have then participate in the scale fly-ins that are around the countryside. This is a more relaxed situation and they can practice some maneuvers without the eyes of a flight judge looking at them and scribbling on a score sheet. When they feel more comfortable then they can work their way into the competition scene.Also clubs could hold flying/judging seminars at their flying field for those that are interested. Here in AZ the OEAF (One Eighth Air Force) even put on small building and detailing/scale sessions for those that were interested in trying their hand at making panel lines, rivets, scale pinking/stitching etc.

It just takes a few determined people to get it going and keep it going.

Kenny is right - it takes a FEW - more than one - to bring it off. A couple years - well, probably more like 6 or 7 years ago - I held a scale "primer" - went to several of the local clubs and talked it up. It was basically a Fun Scale event, but the judges would take the time to explain to the fliers what was wrong with a maneuver, or how to improve it - one guy they had do the same thing 4 or 5 times in a row, improving each time.

I am thankful that I had judges turn out and help - but out of the several pilots that attended, I think maybe one showed up at the qualifier later that year.

I was also noting that when the championships was held on the West Coast, my attendance would be up, and conversely down when it was Midwest or East Coast. Probably other regions noted the same thing. That makes it really hard on clubs to continue hosting qualifiers. It takes the same number of people working to put on a poorly attended contest as a well attended contest. I might point out that it costs the same too - and there is very little return on a contest that has a dozen participants compared to 20 or so.

Due to my situation I will only be able to attend one qualifier in 2011 - MAYBE two, depending on the state of the field of the earlier one.

This is a great discussion,I have been out of scale for a number of years (have attended 3 championships).What led me astray was flying against the same ole' planes year in ,and year out.I found it more fun (for myself ) to have new projects to compete with every year or two,but seeing the same stuff brought about my loss of interest. I'm going to Give it a go this next year because I miss it ,and all the fun I had at the meets.I may not be as competitive ,but I guarantee I'll have fun.

We are trying something new & different here in the NW. The NW Scale Aero-modelers Championship is scheduled for Sept. 8-11 in Boise, Idaho. Rules for the event are going to be posted here shortly at www.NWSAM.org The event has just been listed on the AMA events calendar also. All comers are welcome! This will also be a USSMA Qualifier. Mike

I will start. I plan on going to Gunsmoke, Hemet, Fresno??? and the Championships!With my venerable old 40 size P-51. And hopfully, my new Royal P-38 for the champs if I can finish it in time. Advanced class. And if you think you can beat me with some massive GIANT scale plane, you better be good!

Hello Kenny. Thanks for helping out. Brad Osborn has the competition bug too. He is planning on bringing his BIG little toot. We will start practicing with our competition planes very soon. Wind or not. I have just about got a new modeler, Bob to commit. He has an ARF bashed T. F. 60 size P-47 that is almost done. I need to talk to Adam Gelbart and Paul Curley to see if they are coming. There are small groups from Camarillo, Santa barbara, and San Jose that I do not personaly talk to, but I hope they all come to!

Glad to hear you guys are getting into the swing of things for the 2011 competition season. This should be a good year for scale and there's some new interest coming from the Southern Cal area in regard to Qualifiers and some discussion of perhaps having a scale "bootcamp" for flyers that would like to learn how to get into scale competition. More on that later as it develops.

We are looking forward to seeing you at Gunsmoke, gentlemen, and plan to make it a fun time. Our flight judge training session is going to be on Feb 5th and were are working to get our judges all on the same page.

I took a trip to Dallas about 5 years ago to visit Mr.Tommy Meyers "Son of Toot" to have a closer look at the 1:1 "Little Toot". As expected I was greeted with great Texas hospitality. I was put up at Tommy Myers house for my short stay and learned a lot about this very famous biplane and how it came to be. I also had my arm twisted to take a ride in the front seat Mr.Gary Platner Stearman. What a blast!!! Gary owns a couple of other airplanes along with a "Little Toot". I looked at the "Little Toot" as a great modeling subject and have it on my things to build before I pass on. I would love to see Brads model of the "Little Toot". I would have to imagine that it's the 1/3 scale version.

It looks like the 1rst new issue of Scale R/C modeler will feature Brads BIG Little Toot!

Also there is a new Qualifier in the Fresno area confirmed June 17,18,19.

A scale judge school is a VERY good idea. I think we need one of those every year! Conisistant judging is the heart and soul of Scale compitition. Even if we only brought electric foamies to the meets!

Coery:I lost my P-51B yesterday. Decided to stall instead of fly on a botched landing. Will bring the PT-19 to Hemet. Gunsmoke was a great success due to many people like yourself, Kenny and Mike. It was a lot of work. I'm getting old! There were 39 entries. 13 from CA. 19 from the One Eighth Air Force. Not sure what next year will bring.Austin

I am sorry to hear about your P-51 . You are to be congratulated for getting Gunsmoke going this year!!!!!!!!!! With Gunsmoke,Hemet,Fresno and the 49er, I have no more wants for more contests. I can only go to three or four qualifiers per year. I do not want to wear out my contest plane, with all the practicing.

Now we are giving a full effort this year with the Championships in our neck of the woods. I hope in 2012 we will still have the same contests! Mmmm, (no kmore wants?)how about an "Aces High qualifier" in Vegas???

That 75 static score I got at Gunsmoke really cut to the bone. I am coming back with some changes for Hemet

Looks like I don't have time to make any changes for Hemet. I only got a 74 in static!! I guess I'll have to fly a couple of 100 rounds to make up. I'll be bringing a new scale competitor with me. New at Gunsmoke that is.Austin

I am planning on 2 qualifiers - the 49er, and the Dan Sullivan - both are great events. 49er is in Woodland (near Sacramento) in early May, and the Dan Sullivan is in Ukiah (on Highway 101 North of Santa Rosa) in late June.

The Southern California Scale Qualifier in Hemet is now history with I think 34 entries in all classes. We had a few brand new competitors show up. I saw some new models, that were really great. The Airizona folks came out in force. Advanced had 8 pilots entered. Randy, the spearhead for the Fresno Championships was there with a neat Hellcat That I have never seen before that won Advanced. Austin made a great recovery with high flight scores, after a radio almost took him out of the meet. Paul once again had the only jet, a T-45. The California judges pulled through for me, enough to beat the Peckster to avenge my loss to him at Gunsmoke ! Curtiss did a great job running the event. He really cracks the whip! We did it all in two days! With $$$ short it is good to skip a hotel night.

Thanks for the update Corey... Sounds like a great time. Can't wait to see the scores and get them posted on the site. Any pic's people took I would appreciate them to create an album and upload them.. Would be great!!!